When I picked up Melody Moezzi’s latest memoir, The Rumi Prescription: How an Ancient Mystic Poet Changed My Modern Manic Life, I had the distinct feeling this book landed in my hands for a reason. I’d been searching for a work that could nourish my creative soul for some time, a work that could speak to the struggles of our modern life and creating art. The Rumi Prescription is the book I’ve been waiting for.
Moezzi’s other books, War on Error: Real Stories of American Muslims and Haldol and Hyacinths: A Bipolar Life, feature a strong voice matched only by its sheer wit and brilliance. Moezzi’s latest memoir is no different. It centers the teachings of the Sufi poet, Rumi, and how his ancient words speak to our ever-present life maladies, such as depression, anxiety, and distraction, to name a few. The memoir was sparked, however, by Moezzi’s own creative block and inability to write. In a last ditch effort, she turned for answers in the poetry of Rumi, which her father had recited her entire life. Through Rumi’s teachings and her father’s guidance, Moezzi details for us how she went from the depths of creative despair to breaking through the barriers that once held her back.
Moezzi and I grew up in Centerville, a sleepy suburb of Dayton, Ohio, and the home of Esther Price Candy Company. Moezzi’s sister, Romana and I were friends, as only backyards separated our homes. Our fathers worked at the same hospital. Despite our seeming similarities growing up, though, Rumi (or any other poet) was not a regular discussion in my household. As I read this book, I found myself hungry to know more about Rumi and sad that I hadn’t experienced a father who shared lines of poetry as prescriptions for my everyday ailments. Perhaps that’s why it feels like kismet helped to guide this book into my hands.
I was lucky enough to catch up with Melody Moezzi to ask her a few questions about her writing process and The Rumi Prescription.